Friday, November 27, 2009

SHOP OR SHOW?

This week is one of those abbreviated show weeks. Even hardcore dog show folks normally take a break to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday with their non-fancier relatives and friends. While many will be lined up at the mall or your local electronics super store today, true doggy folk will head for the show grounds.

Forsyth Park Fountain in Savannah Georgia

This week we have but two four show sites, on opposite sides of the country. The first is in one of my favorite southern cities. No place evokes graciousness more than Savannah, Georgia. Even if you are not a fan of Paula Deen or Johnny Mercer (and you should be) you will love Savannah. The Beaufort & Savannah Kennel Clubs will be set up Friday through Monday. The second city giving us four days of shows is Yuma, Arizona. The quintessential old west town is good for your allergies and you Tequila habit. Also running Friday through Monday, the Yuma & Imperial Valley Kennel Clubs are hosting.

Yuma Arizona Wildflowers

Our five remaining shows are all Saturday/Sunday offerings evenly distributed across the country, from Fitchburg MA (the Worcester County Kennel Club) to Arcadia FL (the Greater Venice Florida Dog Club) to East Lansing MI (the Ingham County Kennel Club) to Kankakee IL (the Kankakee River Valley Kennel Club) to Conroe TX (the Conroe Kennel Club).

So while some may want to spend the weekend looking for a battery operated hamster (ask you nephew) or a discounted flat screen TV, true believers will be out there enjoying the sublime beauty AKC purebred dogs.

NUMBER EIGHT

NUMBER NINE

NUMBER TEN

SHOW INFO

******************

The author has been attending dog shows as a spectator and exhibitor for over 45 years. He is a retired management consultant who has advised multiple organizations affiliated with the AKC and the Cat Fanciers Association on business management, long range planning, customer service, and legislative matters. After 25 years of living in the big cities of New York, San Francisco, and Washington, DC, he now resides in his hometown of Memphis, TN.

LET US HEAR FROM YOU

We love to get e-mail from our readers. Send us your show reports, photos of your wins, and any other interesting tidbits you want to share with our readers. E-mail us at bill38112@aol.com